The Men's First Team are back in Serie A action after the international break. Luciano Spalletti's side travel to Sardinia to take on Cagliari on Matchday 6.
The clash is set to kick off at 20:45 CEST on Sunday, October 11, and it will see the Bianconeri take on one of Serie A's most in-form teams.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti spoke to the press to preview the action.
THE BREAK AND THE TEAM’S CONDITION
"The break has been a long one, and there are pros and cons. We’ve managed this period in a straightforward way, allowing for longer rest periods to balance out the many matches we’ve played. A build-up of fatigue and a build-up of rest, there’s no other remedy. We’ve assessed each player’s individual situation, tailoring the training programme for those still available. The international players have all returned in the right frame of mind and have worked well in recent training sessions. I’m pleased with their focus, the pace and the way the sessions have gone. We’ve tailored some of the training loads based on the matches they’ve played and when they returned. We’re satisfied with the players we have available and, above all, with their fitness. [Andrea] Cambiaso has completed all training sessions as required. Obstacles cannot be avoided, and we mustn’t try to do so; instead, we must overcome them. Constantly talking about difficulties is a waste of time. We’re happy with the squad we have and we’ll take to the pitch with these players to try and win the match.”
THE MATCH AGAINST CAGLIARI
"Sometimes statistics need to be put into context because they can actually distort reality. Pisacane and Giulini deserved the points they picked up, but not last year’s victory. It’ll be a tough match. Cagliari deliberately give you a bit of space, inviting you to play in their half, and they have players capable of turning the play around quickly, passing the ball well and neutralising any counter-attacks. As in previous years, they manage to get the best out of certain players, and this year they’re doing so with Daniel Maldini. We’ll have to be very good, determined, alert and intense, because if you give them space, they know how to make the most of it.”
JUVENTUS’ GROWTH AND AMBITIONS
"We want to improve, grow and keep learning. Those who stop learning often end up repeating themselves, whilst those who seek out new things grow. We’re training well and I don’t see any negatives in our progress. Hunger is always important in football. A love for the game must be channelled onto the pitch through a professional approach and a constant drive for performance and results. That’s what we’re doing, even though there’s always room to achieve a little more. We’ve won two matches since the defeat at Sassuolo, and it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that we’d manage it in that way. We’re on the right track.
"We’re not interested in being seen as favourites or underestimated. There’ll never be any respite for those who’ve made our choice. Juventus will always be expected to win. We are the ones raising the bar for our own ambitions. We know we can hold our own amongst that group. Some tip us for the Scudetto whilst others see us finishing elsewhere, but we are the ones with the highest ambitions. We know what stage we’re at right now, and we don’t need others to tell us how far we can go.”
ZHEGROVA, NICO GONZALEZ AND KOLO MUANI
"[Edon] Zhegrova is one of those players who could go from being a substitute to a first-team regular. I’ll assess his playing time and then make a decision. There are players who immediately show, through their gaze, the determination and desire to take control of their own future. Nico [Gonzalez] is intense in everything he does and has a distinctive, determined look in his eyes that immediately shows you the path he wants to take.
"We want to give [Randal] Kolo Muani the freedom to play and we’re encouraging him to adopt a different approach to that of a traditional centre-forward. He’s a natural runner, has quality both out wide and in the centre, and is good in the air, at acrobatic moves and at turning on a sixpence. We rate him very highly. We try to support him in his choices whilst at the same time showing him something new. He’s played too much as a centre-forward and needs to move about more to meet the demands we’ve set for him.”
KOOPMEINERS AND DOUGLAS LUIZ
"[Teun] Koopmeiners is a versatile player. He has great vision, the ability to play unexpected through-balls and to create space for his teammates. It’s as if he’s wearing 3D glasses that allow him to see beyond the defensive line. He has a touch that gives the ball rhythm and knows how to direct play towards goal. In defence we have [Jhon] Lucumì, who is doing brilliantly, and [Lloyd] Kelly, who has had a successful spell with us. Koop is a deep-lying playmaker, capable of keeping the team moving and taking them by the hand. He’s probably made a few mistakes, but I always expect him to prove his worth. I haven’t lost faith in the possibility of seeing Koopmeiners run the show for Juventus. Douglas [Luiz]? Usually, good playmakers are the ones who don’t drive their managers mad, and I’ve got a very good playmaker in him.”
SARR’S RUNNING
"[Pape Matar] Sarr is a cross between a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder. He has a short stride, but when he makes a run, he covers a lot of ground. His timing is spot on and, in terms of his playing style, he is most similar to [Weston] McKennie. He covers a lot of ground and could be one of those players who goes from being a substitute to a first-team regular."
